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React.js

269 courses 4 categories

Part of Learn Programming

React is a JavaScript library for building user interfaces, originally released by Facebook in 2013 and now the most widely deployed view layer on the web. This topic is a deep dive into React specifically — the component model, hooks, state management, the meta-framework layer (Next.js), and the mobile target (React Native). For the broader frontend space, see the Frontend & UI topic.

React in 2026 is defined by two shifts. First, React 19 made server components and server actions production-ready, pushing data fetching and a large share of rendering work back to the server through Next.js App Router and similar runtimes. Second, the surrounding ecosystem consolidated: TanStack Query for server state, Zustand or Redux Toolkit for client state, Tailwind for styling, shadcn/ui for component primitives, and Vite or Next.js for the build.

What you'll find under this topic

  • Core React: components, hooks (useState, useEffect, useReducer, useMemo), refs, context
  • State management: Redux Toolkit, Zustand, Jotai, TanStack Query for server state
  • Next.js: App Router, server components, server actions, routing and data fetching
  • React Native: cross-platform mobile development, Expo, native modules
  • Forms and validation: React Hook Form, Zod, controlled vs uncontrolled inputs
  • Testing: React Testing Library, Vitest, Playwright component tests
  • Performance: memoization, code splitting, suspense, streaming SSR

React skills hire at almost every B2C and B2B SaaS company — Stripe, Shopify, Vercel, Linear, Notion, and the long tail of startups building web products. React Native opens a parallel mobile track at companies like Discord, Coinbase, and Meta. Common roles include frontend engineer, full-stack engineer, mobile engineer, and design-systems / UI-platform engineer at larger organizations.

Top 10 picks for 2026

Categories (4)

Next.js thumbnail
Next.js
Next.js is the production framework most React projects converge on. Vercel built it to solve the things React itself…
React Native thumbnail
React Native
React Native lets you write iOS and Android apps with the React component model and JavaScript or TypeScript. Facebook…
React.js thumbnail
React.js
React is the most-installed JavaScript view library on the web. Facebook open-sourced it in 2013 to solve one specific…
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Redux
Redux is the predictable state container that became the de-facto standard for React state management between 2015 and…

Courses (269)

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Frequently asked questions

Is React still the right frontend choice in 2026?
Yes by default — React has the largest job market, the deepest ecosystem, and the most accumulated production wisdom. Server components, Suspense, and the broader React Compiler effort have meaningfully improved the framework. Vue, Svelte, and Solid all have real merit but smaller markets. For maximum employer optionality, React is still the safe pick.
Next.js vs Remix vs plain React?
Next.js is the dominant React meta-framework — Vercel and large parts of the ecosystem standardised on it. Remix (now React Router 7) is the loyal alternative with strong data-loading patterns. Plain React with Vite still works well for SPAs and embedded widgets. Pick Next.js for SSR-heavy product work; pick plain React + Vite for embeddable or simpler apps.
Class components or hooks — what should I learn?
Hooks only for new code. Class components persist in older codebases and you'll need to read them, but no team writing greenfield React in 2026 starts with classes. Focus on useState, useEffect, useMemo, useCallback, useContext, useReducer, and the rules around concurrency, then learn server components when comfortable.
Do I need to learn TypeScript with React?
Strongly recommended. The vast majority of professional React codebases use TypeScript, and most senior job postings list it as a requirement rather than a nice-to-have. Plan on learning enough TypeScript to model props, state, hooks, and API responses confidently; advanced generics can wait until you hit a specific need.
How long to become a productive React developer?
2–4 months part-time given prior JavaScript experience; 6–12 months from a cold start. Build several projects with real APIs, auth, and state management, learn the React Query / TanStack Query patterns, and ship at least one Next.js app with SSR and a Postgres-backed API. Senior-level React fluency accrues over years.